Freedom!

Apart from the freedom to do what you want when you want, there are plenty of other questions to ask yourself when it comes to hiring a car. How far is your hotel from the golf course? Are there any other courses nearby which would provide an excellent alternative round of golf? Also, there are two words in ‘golf holiday’, so you may want to leave the course behind you for an afternoon, jump in your car and explore the local area at leisure.

Points to remember.

• Think about the size of your group and the type of car you’re hiring. Two adults, two sets of luggage and two sets of clubs might fit into a small car, but not a lot else will!
• Remember, in most of our holiday destinations you’ll be driving on the right (or wrong!) side of the road.
• Just like at home, town and city centres tend to be busy, busy, busy. If you’re a nervous or inexperienced driver, perhaps it's worth considering a hotel on the edge of town, or using the local taxis.
• Remember that some hotels don’t offer parking facilities and parking in town centres can be tricky – check with your hotel reception on the best place to head for.

The Wacky Races

We’re all guilty of muttering under our breath at the very least, but remember that driving standards abroad are not always the same as in the UK and, despite the locals performing manoeuvres that would make Schumacher proud, you might want to leave the Formula 1 driving to the professionals.

Beat the break-ins

If there’s one thing you should remember above all others when you’re abroad it’s this - a hire car sticker screams “I’m a tourist. Please rob me.” You can make your hire car less attractive to thieves by observing two golden rules.

• Don’t leave anything worth stealing inside the car.
• Don’t bother to lock it. Rather than breaking in, they can steal the car if they want. That’s the hire company’s problem, not yours.

Arriving in resort

Think about the time of day you’re arriving in resort. Will it be dark or late at night? How far is your hotel from the airport? There’s nothing worse than stumbling out of the airport with your bags in the dead of night to face a two hour drive on the wrong side of the road, with no idea of where you’re going. One option would be to book a transfer for arrival, and have your hire car delivered to your hotel the following day. Then after a good night's sleep you can speak to the locals for a few tips on local driving conditions.

Transfers

If the only travelling you’re planning on doing is from the airport to your hotel, or you fancy a day to rest and get used to the local area before you hit the roads, check with your hotel to see if they have their own or can book you a transfer.

Local transport

In most tourist areas there is plenty of local transport to get you around if you don’t drive or just don’t fancy it. Taxis are often cheaper than at home and are a convenient way to nip around town. Speak to your hotel reception to book one, or ask them about the local bus, train or tram services if you’re feeling a little more adventurous.